JAPAN. Airports Council International (ACI) Asia Pacific has revealed the latest details of the programme for its 18th Regional Assembly, Conference & Exhibition which is set to take place on 16-18 May in Kobe, Japan. Kansai Airports is the official host of the event which will be held at Kobe Portopia Hotel.
Centred around the theme ‘Asia Pacific and Middle East Take-off: From Recovery to Global Leadership,’ the conference will feature leading industry experts.
Among the key topics to be discussed are post-pandemic airport development and the introduction of advanced technologies, as well as sustainability solutions.
Amid the industry’s continued recovery from the impact of the pandemic, ACI Asia-Pacific said that now is the time for stakeholders to reconnect and focus on rebuilding their businesses.
ACI Asia-Pacific Director General Stefano Baronci said: “By bringing together leaders from across our region, we hope to foster collaboration and create a roadmap for recovery and long-term success. Indeed, despite traffic being progressively recovering from the crisis, success cannot simply be taken for granted but rather be seen as a potential outcome of a process of transformation and innovation to become more competitive.
“So, our conference in Kobe offers a significant opportunity for us to exchange knowledge and deliberate on critical topics such as making our industry pandemic-resilient, address environmental challenges, improve connectivity, workforce management and sustainable recovery.
“Moreover, our diverse range of exhibitors will further elevate the conference experience. Delegates can learn more about the latest products and services and also get a better understanding of their services and how they could be relevant to the business.”
This is the first time that the conference will be held in the Kansai region, which will host the Osaka Kansai Expo 2025. ACI said that Japan serves as an ideal venue for the conference as it reflects the strength of the recovery in the region.
Baronci said: “Japan is one of the economic drivers of the region, facilitating significant trade and tourism in a significant manner. Japan has made a tremendous contribution into the region’s air traffic and since the relaxation of the COVID-related restrictions, the country is making steady progress in recovery. The conditions are now ideal for the event to take place in Japan while the country heals from the effects of the pandemic.
“Following the relaxation of the COVID protocol, airports in cooperation with the airlines and tourism operators in Japan are also making efforts to increase the number of flights and destinations to attract more travellers. These measures have started to bear immediate fruit, as the number of travellers to Japan has started to rise again.”
ACI Asia-Pacific President Emmanuel Menanteau will open the conference with a welcome address on 17 May, along with Kansai Economic Federation Chairman Masayoshi Matsumoto, Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Parliamentary Vice-Minister Masato Shimizu and Kansai Airports Representative Director CEO Yoshiyuki Yamaya. This will be followed by a speech by Baronci.
Vinci Airports President and Vinci Concessions CEO Nicolas Notebaert will also discuss how airports managed to survive the crisis brought by the pandemic, and how to build a smart and future-ready ecosystem.
Senior industry figures from the region will share key lessons they learned from the pandemic from the perspective of airport operations during a morning session. They will also share their insights on how the industry can enhance crisis management and operational preparedness for similar public health crises in the future.
The session will feature KLIA Terminal 1 General Manager of Operations Abd Hasman Abd Muhimim; Narita International Airport Corporation Executive Officer and General Manager for Operations Center Takao Emura; Amadeus IT Group Strategy & Business Development Manager Carl Rogers; Perth Airport General Manager of Operations Tony Sewell; and Changi Airport Group Aerodrome Safety And Aviation Security Alan Xavier Tan.
Another session in the afternoon will focus on Connectivity, Recovery and Beyond. Speakers will include Matarat Holding CEO Mohammed Abdullah Almaghlouth, Australia Pacific Airports Corporation CEO Lorie Argus, PwC Hong Kong & Mainland China Capital Projects and Infrastructure Partner Simon Booker, Airport Authority Hong Kong Assistant General Manager Ricky Chong, PwC Malaysia and Vietnam Capital Projects & Infrastructure Partner Edward Clayton, and Fukuoka International Airport Traffic Development Division Head and Executive Officer Yosuke Shigemori.
Another conference highlight during day one will be a discussion on China’s impact on regional and global recovery. Also high on the agenda are the ACI Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly (for ACI Asia-Pacific airport members only) and ACI World Special Meeting for Electing World Governing Directors By Asia-Pacific Region.
The conference will also put a strong focus on sustainability practices within the sector.
Day two will begin with a presentation by FTI Consulting Senior Director David Whitely that will lay the foundation for sessions that will cover environment, social, and governance issues.
This will be followed by a session that will focus on small and regional airports’ path to recovery while maintaining sustainable practices. Joining this discussion are Cambodia Airports CEO Cyril Girot, SUSA President Angela Gittens, Aéroport de Tahiti CEO Jean-Michel Ratron and Airport Authority Cook Islands CEO Nikau Tangaroa.
Another topic to be highlighted is the most high-profile greenfield airport developments in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, featuring an interview with Noida International Airport Limited COO Kiran Jain and The Red Sea International Airport Aviation Business Development And Commercial Contracts Director Michael White.
Rounding off the conference, speakers will also assess the travel industry’s human capital shift and the diversified role of HR, among other relevant topics.
Speakers include Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad Managing Director Dato’ Iskandar Mizal Mahmood, International Airport Review Editor Holly Miles, Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Chief People Experience & Marketing Officer Mari Ruiz-Matthyssen, Plaza Premium Group Business Development Global Director Jonathan Song, Taoyuan International Airport Corporation Human Resources Director Yuan-Hung Ting and Hamad International Airport Vice President for Human Resources Sebastian Arkadiusz Wojtun.
ACI will also conduct an awards presentation before the closing remarks. ✈
